Closure



Dec. 7, 1948. R w BARTON 2,455,645

CLOSURE Filed April 5, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

. `dispensing.:setttorremoving contannated fdurin'gl` the process Patented Dec. 7,l `1948 y Mauthausen .and GOWN i a .cornoration ef. ndiahe,

This invention-relates toi-Ia `.new{an'dintuiroved the miitentsrotlsterileliquidcontainers.`

Itis ofteniaesimbie :to remove. steriifiiqids .from the original o container; .over 11-,a`.oontinuous,

.extended period, `partitoularly sin-y thelcaseyof. .intravenous solutions. "fltlgalsolimay he ldiesifaale'i to .withdraw portions lof. the:.liquidA lat @separate 1 intervals, and tofneverthelessfnkeep the liquidunin the' intervenmglperiods; l i. i. i.

A means of; measuring. rate :ofI :withdrawal of liquid withdrawn from a Vcontainer ishlneces- `sary or.` desirable, also; in numerouswinstanoes i To keep such isoluti'onssterile :underfthesacon` `ditions it is necessarytolprovideazmeazns of completely `sealing .the container'wafter the `dicluid has. been placed ini fit,... andfthis .#sealll must rlen'iain i intact;` during .l tbeshipping. and.` `handling oi l 'the container, prior :tol thei Ltime :liquid .is\ with- 1 i drawn.

It is also .an obii'ect fof .inventionwto pro*` vide la dispensing. set,` the bodyeof whichfmay :be constructed of any material desired without. re-

`gard to possible contamination! of the lzllituiicl.

rihis is possible because the body of the closure eliminates `.the -possibilityPoicontainination sfofvthe 4. liquid by smallzparticles lof :the `rx-iai'.eri'alfofiwhich .the body .is constructedpwliicl'i' mayyhaversbroken oi `during shipping f and .f hand-ling. r loom-s i `moniy usedtform` ofwclosure, foriinstanca has a body .l constructed Lori plastic` material, 'which is .not insulated from the liquidgiilanddthe.incidence .fof

contamination with small. particles of the.. plastic is substantial.` The disclosed lfelispausing .lset,

on 'theV other` hand, allows awidelciroicerof @amaterials for thetody, sueltas alight meta.i,1=w`hich would provide highfstrengthrfandfserviceability without tear-of eontaminationfeitherigtroni contact oiichipping. -It is -afilrtherobiectl .ltoiiprov-i'de dispensing trading. pantsfand the .lbtdyncntheolosurefmayabe made of la niaterizil` bfiigreaili strength. i

\ -hpsliestinnnpiia194s;sensinowesa'ssi oisans. (oilizsglii l of. removal, or

set whiongreatlyredueesthe ipossiloility.o'f-ybreak i y age eeneran-y,` since there lista minimum of .spro- .255 movableoap and plug yvanwsville, 1nd.,

Another objectiioilthe filfwention `is `to provide L afi-new. and: improved means for filtering the air `alltnweclto:replace the .liquid removedtrom the container, Wthat-itwill` lfunction eiiiciently `as long ilasfthere isf liquidremaining in the containenand that` is 1, simple in Aconstructiovr-i .and easily` rassemfbledi adiirinsfmenufature- ,y Amotheriobjeet of theginventionds tol-provide aidispensingsetwhich has a small number -of i0 `parts `to assemble duringinanufacture, and all .of whichare eitherqhelddn position by friction alom-2,101'. by threaded engagement. This `greatly :simplifies the manufacturing procedure .by elimi- .lnatingqcementing "operations .which are both tiine lax/.consuming and laborious, yand. which ottenutesul't ina iaulftyseal. {Thisg in turn, eliminates anotheripossibleysource of contamination, .both ffrornysuehlfaulty seals orfromthe cementing .vmaterialfvsew Y o slinotherfobjectsof` the inventionis to .provide `af,disperasing set which vallows the liquidto-be .removedcimm the @entamer by gravity 110W -thIQilgl-lfa spout yin tlfiewlclosureY provided for that purpose, or by a needle, the needle beinginlsertedinto `)the container throughsa piercing yareain the resilient liner ofthe closure provided hetnet-pese other objecti `of the invention isto provide 1 a. dispensing 1 set which gives Aa visualI indication of therate flow of the airintoythecontainer, the liquid; s being `removed, yvhicii,A in turn, is i. ian jdicationof therate ofiiow oil-,the .liquidout tecfa-tir container. Present methods of indicating `titre' rateyof'flow .of the; `vliquid require planting` a drip-meter in the line of `flott/ef Athe liquid after fzitwleavesthe, container. `Coristiyuction loisuch a ,dripem-eter is4 relativeiy expensiveand, therefore, they are-generally ,re-fused, after cleaning, which `zisifrelati,velyv dicult. :i i

iAnotherfobiectfzoi theY invention is 5to provide i ...dispensing sct.atl1at.=e1iminates theneedfor scleanngand sterlllizinglthe .indicator since uit ,only cornes into contact with the air replacingthe 1 liquid. prior `to thegtirne the` air venters tlieiil'terringfm'edium :in the closure.

i addition ittis lla. `turtl'ier object to provide a dispensing `s'etfofnsuch simplicity that parts of it canibainadefupata cost that` permitssingle v"suse@andizdisposalfo said parts.

'tnerlobjeets andsadvantages ,will satiricar` as the tion proceeds.

" al sectional view foi. .theolopen'sing :set with theme- Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, viewed from above; and,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the dispensing set in operating position with the cap and plug removed and the indicator and dispensing hose in place.

Referring now to Figure l, the closure vI has substantially-the form of a screw cap with the ltop portion 2 and the octagonal side Wall 3 extending perpendicularly therefrom at its periphery. Th-e side wall 3 has the threads 4 on its inner surface for engaging similar threads onthe container (not shown) on which the closure is place-d. The cylindrical filter holder 5 having the cylindrical passage E therethrough, is an integral part of the t-op portion 2, `and extends therefrom on both sides. The lip of the container, when theJ i closure is screwed on, fits tightly against the outer edge of the resilient liner 1, which encloses the side of the top portion 2 and the end 8 of the lter holder 5, adjacent to the container.

The liner 1 is so `shaped asto'form the Well 9 coaxial with the end 8 of thelter holder 5, which it` encloses. The cup I is placed in the well 9 with its base I| adjacent the end 8 of the filter 5, and with its open end I2 adjacent the bottom I3 of the well 9. The lip I4 of the cup I0 is' formed Vwith the slotted openings I to prevent the cup from becoming sealed lagainst the bottom I3 of jwell '3, and the side walls' I6 and base II of the cup have the corresponding grooves I1 to allow a free passage of air around the outside of the cup.

The tube I8 is held at its flared end I9 in the opening in the bottom I3 and extends outwardly therefrom, away from the open end I2 of the cup IU on the axis of the passage 6. As shown in Figure 3, the tube I8 terminates in the valve 2|, commonly known as a Bunsen valve, formed of resilient material andhaving th-e longitudinal sli-t 22.- 'I'he valve oper-ates to allow the ow of air from the tube, but prevents a flow of liquid or air in the opposite direction into the tube. It thus serves to keep the tube I8 free from liquid at all times.

The filter holder 5 is lled with the air-filtering medium 23, such as cotton or similar material, which must be kept free from moisture for satisfactory operation. `'The valve 2|, as explained above, operates to prevent -any moisture from entering the tube |8,and the cup I0 is provided as a secondary measure in the form of a trap to prevent any moisture that might enter thetube I8 from reaching the air-filtering medium 23 when the container is inverted preparatory to withdrawing liquid from it.

The -other protruding end 24 of the filter hold-er 5 has at its termination the threads 25 which engage the threads 25 of the removable cap 21 when it is in place. The cap 21 has theresilient washer 28 seated on the inner surface of its top 29, :and seals the opening of the passage 6 in the end 24 when the cap 21 is threaded tightly onto the end 24.

The top portion of the closure I Ialso has the opening 30, through which the spout 3| extends, lits open end being ush with the outer surface of To insure that the plug 32 remains firmly seated durin-g shipping and handling, the cap 21 is so formed that its bottom edge 34 engages the upper edge 35 of the plug 32 when the cap 21 is threaded onto the end 24 of the filter holder 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This feature also tends to prevent improper operation of the dispensing set,

` since properuse requiresthat the cap 21 be re- 6, lso that any air entering the container -to relieve the top 2. The spout 3| is an integral part of the liner material, forms a tight seal, but is'also readily removed when desired. i.

the reducedpressure will rst pass through the filter medium 23.

The additional opening 36, as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 in the top portion 2 of the closure I is sealed with a portion 31 of the resilient liner 1 molded `tio t the opening and'. extending through the opening to a point substantially flush with the outer surface of the top portion 2. This exposed portion of the resilient liner 1 has a small,

raised ring portion 38 substantially in the center of 'the exposed surface. `This ring/portion ydefines th-e piercing area 39 'in .the resilientliner, through which a needle may '.beV inserted to Withdraw -a portion of the liquid. This feature of the closure is distinctly new/and provides greater flex- .ibility Iin the use of the container and the liquid contained therein.

Referring now to 4Figure 3, the closure is shown. in operating position for removal of the liquid by gravitylflow through the dispensing hose 40. Toprepare vthe container for removal of the liquid in this manner, the cap 21 is removed from the end 24 of the filter holder 5, and the plug 32vis then removed from the spout opening 33.V The hose 40 and the nozzle adaptor 4| have previously been sterilized with the end of the hose 4U slipped over the end 420i the adaptor 4|. Theifusual precautions commonly used in handlingv sterile equipment should -be ob'- served While making the connection, and also in inserting the other end.' of the adaptor 43 into the opening 33 inthe spout 3|, which is the next step.

`The container isI inverted and supported in this position, .and the liquid will then flow freely from the container, through the hose 40, and the rate of fiowmay be adjusted or completely stopped by manipulation of the usual screw compressor (notshown) placed on the hose 40. The rate 'of ow may also be controlled, to a degree, by vadjusting'the height at which the container is supported. i

Satisfactory control of the rate of ow necessitates having some means of determining what the rate of flow is, other` than-noting the gradual change inthe level of the liquid in the container. Much more accurate `determinations are needed in the use of such equipment than would be possible from noting such changes. It is common practice to place what is known as a drip-meter ,inthe line of flow of the `liquid be- `ing dispensed.-: This `device gives lavisual indication ofthe vrate of flow by. enabling the operator to count `the number of drops passing through the ydispensing-hose lin. va given mount oftime. f i `Thedisadvantage in using thisdevice is ob- Y .vious,A in `that `it. introduces another possible source of contamination. This disadvantage is end of said projecting portion ofsaid lter hlder, a cup in said Well disposed with its base adjacent the end of said lter holder, a tube associated with the open end of said cup extending through said liner and terminating in means permitting a flow of air in a direction away from the filter holder but preventing entry of ,the liquid into said tube, an opening in said closure body exposing a portion of saidliner, 'said portion having th'e form of an open spout leading from the liner side of said closure body through said closure body to the opposite side, a removable plug inserted from said opposite side sealing said spout, said plug being locked in `place by a removable cap sealing the end of the filter holder projecting from said opposite side. y

4. A dispensing set for sterile liquid containers comprising, in combination, a closure body having means forv engaging and sealing a container, a lter holder formed as an integral part of said body projecting outwardly from both sides or said body and having a passage therethrough,.said passage containing means for filtering air, a resilient liner substantially covering the side of said closure body associated with said container when said container isengaged and covering the projecting portion of said filter holder on said side, a well formed by said liner adjacent to the end -of said projecting portion of said lter holder, a

cup in said well disposed with its base adjacent the end of said filter holder, a tube associated with the open end of said cup extending throughsaid liner and terminating in means permitting a flow of air in a direction away fromthe lter holder but preventing entry of the liquid into said tube, an opening insaid closure body exposing a portion of said liner said portion having the form of an open spout leading from the liner side of said closure body through said closure body to the opposite side, a removable plug inserted from said opposite side sealing said spout, Asaid plug being locked in place by a removable cap sealing th'e end of the filter holder projecting from said opposite side, an adaptor for replacing said removable plug providing an extended outlet for said liquid, and means for measuring the rate of iiow of air into the container when said liquid is dispensed, l

5. A dispensing set for sterile liquid containers comprising, in combination, a closure body having means for engaging and sealing a container, a lter holder formed as an integral part of said body, projectingv outwardly from both sides of said body and having a passage therethrough, said passage containing means for ltering air, a resilient liner substantially covering the side of said closure body associated'with the said container when said `container is engaged and covering the projecting portion of said lter holder on said side, a well formed by said liner adjacent to the end of said projecting portion of said filter holder, a cup in said well having a corrugated outer surface disposed with its base adjacent the end of-said1iilter holder, a tube associated with the open end of said cupextending through said liner and terminating in means permitting a flow of air in a direction away from the filter holder but vpreventing entry of the liquidinto said tube, an opening in said closure body exposing a portion of said liner and being completely sealed by same, an additional opening in said closure bodyexposing an additional portion of said liner, said additional portion having the form of an open spout leading from theliner side of said closure body through said closure body to theopposite-side, a removable plug inserted from said opposite side sealing said spout, said plug being locked in place by a removable cap sealing the end of the filter holder projecting from said opposite side, an adaptor for replacing said removable plug providing an extended outlet for said liquid, and means for measuring the rate of flow of air into the container when said liquid is dispensed.

6. A dispensing closure for sterile liquid containers` comprising a closure bodyhaving means for engaging and sealing a container. a filter holder formed as an integral part of said body projecting outwardly from both sides of said body, and having a passage therethrough, said passage containing means for filtering air, a resilient liner substantially covering the side of said closure bodyassociated with said container when said container is engaged and the projecting portion of said filter holder on said side, a well formed by said ,liner adjacent to the end of said projecting portion of said iilter holder, a cup in said well having a corrugated outer surface, disposed with its base adjacent the end of said iilter holder, a tube associated with the open end of said cup extending through said liner and terminating in means permitting a flow of air in a direction away from the lter holder but preventing entry of the liquid into said tube, an opening in said closure body exposing a portion of said liner and being completely `sealed by same, an additional opening in the closure body exposing an additional portion of said liner, said additional portion having the form oigan open spout leading from the liner side of said closure body through said closure body tothe opposite side, a removable plug inserted from said opposite side sealing said spout, said plug being locked in place by a removable cap sealing the end of the filter holder projecting from said opposite side, an adaptor for replacing said removable plug providing an extended outlet for said liquid, an indicator replacing said removable cap on said filter holder when said liquid is being dispensed, said indicator being substantially a transparent extension of said filter holder and having an L-shaped air inlet at its closed outer extremity extending outwardly and then upwardly from the said indicator when said container is inverted, and being so disposed that a small amount of indicator liquid may be introduced into said indicator so that air entering said lter holder must iirst pass through said air inlet and through said liquid in said indicator.

7. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for securing said body thereto in sealing relation, said body being provided with a filter holder, projecting toward and away from the container, said filter holder having a passage therethrough, a filter in said passage, a removable closure for the end of said filterholder extending away from the container, a resilient liner disposed in said body and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container and a portion of the body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member'aligned with and embracing the portion of said body filter holder extending toward the container whereby a well is formed between said well member and said filter holder, a cup 4member disposed in said well having the cup portion facing said well member, a vent tube extending through a portion of said well member and communicating with said cup member, said c up. member having a passage for eeeeirlle ,reel' laringe ,dertien eeeetesite begiepeeeilbletween the eenteinerende Dertienefthetedylwherepy aforesaid ,heey is in ,engagement with weeen- 'werden efsedleer eers .eee .eeeteeld ,llmembereligned witherisi embreeieg the 1291121921efseidrwyrilterhelsieeeeformed between said well InAniberandv `saidjfllter holderaV cup ,I newrnrliper` disposed inlsaid wellehaving the cup portion 'facing said Well member, a vent tube extending througnaportion of said well member and communicating with said cup member, Lsaid cup member chaving a passage `:for the depth of said cup member permitting-communication betyveen-,said,ventanitaandnlter,` said liner having a portion extending through said body, and

meansmextending through saidvlast namedlprtion y*for upermitting discharge from l,the contaixier.

v9. A device `of .the .character described loom- `prising, .in combination, la iclosurfe body :having -means thereon `for .engaging i-.afliquid container forisecuringisaid .body l,thieretotintsealinglmlation,

said body being provided with a lter holder projecting toward and away from the container, said iilter holder having a passage therethrough, a`

lter in said passage, a removable closure for the end of said filter holder extending away from the container, a resilient liner disposed in said body i and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container anda portion of the` body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member aligned with and embracing the portion of said body iilter holder extending toward the container whereby a well is formed between said well member and said iilter holder, a cup member disposed in said well having the cup portion facing said well member,

a vent tube extending through a portion of said well member and communicating with said cup i member, said cup member having a passage for the depth of said cup member permitting` communication between said vent tube and iilter, said liner having a spout extending through said body, and a closure for said spout adapted to be held in closed position by said first named closure.

10. A device -of the character described comprising, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for securing said body thereto in sealing relation, said body being provided with a filter holder projecting toward and away from the container, said filter holder having a passage therethrough, a filter in said passage, a removable closure for the end of said iilter holder extending away from the container, a resilient liner disposed in said body and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container and a portion of the body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member aligned with l,20 tendine tedere *the eeeteeer, ,wherebye Wellie eee esilarante eine ,nemen uef .seid ,heey filter hel ,.eeteedi'natewerd theepeteiner ,whereby e well .ermedbetweeneeid Wellmemleereedleeld helder, een) .member ,dieeeeed/,ineeid-wel1 haring the .up ,portion ,feeine Seid Well feem vtelg', vent mteexteneioe through `e leeftiee` ef Seid welltmenlleer ,end ,eemmueieetiee with seid @up ,mmblf-id-.QHP .,mfmbe' haVlg l 'message :fer `trie depth ef .seid ,eine member' permitting communication'between said venttube and filter, saidwlinenhavingaspout extending through said heme .eleeureier eeideeeui edeeeed te beheld in yclosed position 'byf'saidM-iirst namedclosure, linerlhaving aportion extending `through een been egel `meets .extending through vSeid lastnamedporti-on yfor permitting dis charge i from the .eentener- "ll Adevice ofthe character `described com# prising, in combination, a closure body having nieans'ithereon for engaging al liquid container for securingsaid body thereto in sealing relation, saidwbodybeing provided with ma liilter holder, said ffilter holder having -a passage therethrough, ajlterrin saidpassage, a removable closure for 4the` outer end of` said filter hplder,a `resilient liner disposed `in said f-body and having a portion adapted -t"o` be disposed lbetween `the container and a portion of the body whereby when `said Vbody win engagement .with the `container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner ihaving -alwellmember aligned with and embracingtheinner `encltol i said `iilter` holder whereby a well is formed between said well member and said iilter holder, a cuptmember. disposed i inr` said ,well having the cup ,portion facingisaidivvell member, 'a vventtube l extending .through la portion of said well member and communicating with said cup member, said cup member having a passage for the depth of said cup member permitting communication between said vent tube and lter and means extending through said liner for permitting discharge from the container.

12. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for securing said body thereto in sealing relation, said body being provided with a iilter holder, said filter holder having a passage therethrough, a iilter in said passage, a removable closure for the outer end ci said iilter holder, a resilient liner disposed in said `body and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container and a portion of the body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member aligned with and embracing the inner end of said filter holder whereby a well is formed between said well member and said filter holder, a vent tube extending through a portion of said well member and communicating with said iilter, and means extending through said liner forpermitting discharge from the con talner.

13. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for securing said body thereto in sealing relation, said body being provided with a iilter holder, said iilter holder having a passage therethrough, a iilter in said passage, a removable closure for the outer end of said filter holder, a resilient liner disposed in said body and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container and a portion of the body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member aligned with and embracing the inner end of said lter holder whereby a well is formed between said well member and said filter holder, a vent tube extending through a portion of said well member and communicating with said lter, said liner having a portion extending through said body, and means extending through said last named portion for permitting discharge from the container.

14. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for securing said body thereto in sealing relation, said body being provided with a iilter holder, said lter holder having a passage therethrough, a filter in said passage, a removable closure for the outer end of said lter holder, a resilient liner disposed in said body and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container and a portion of the body whereby when said body is in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having a well member aligned with and embracing the inner end of said iilter holder whereby a well is formed between said well member and said filter holder, a vent tube extending through a portion of said well member and communicating with said filter, said liner having a spout extending through said body, and a closure for said spout adapted to be held in closed position by said rst named closure.

15. A device of the character described comprisng, in combination, a closure body having means thereon for engaging a liquid container for 12 securing 'said body,theretoin` sealing relation, said body being provided with a lter holder, said lter holder having alpassage therethrough, a lter in said passage, a removable closure for .the outer end of said lter holder, a resilient liner `disposed in saidbody. and having a portion adapted to be disposed between the container anda portion of ythe body whereby when said body is` in engagement with the container said portion of said liner acts as a seal, said liner having av Well member aligned with and embracing the inner end of said filter holder whereby a well isformed between said well vmember and said filter holder, a `vent tubee'xtending 'through a portion of said well member and communicating with saidIter, said liner having a spout extending through said body, a closure for said spout `adapted to be held in yclosed position by said rst named closure, said linerhaving a portion extending through .said body, and means extending through said last named portion for permitting discharge from the container..

` f RAYMOND W.v BARTON.

i v REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of` this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Shaw June 27, 1944 

